Metallic fastener for merchandise-envelops.



C, E. CATHER.

METALLIC FASTENER Foa Mencmwmse ENVELOPS, APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 19H1. 1,290,103., )Patented Jau. 7,1919.

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CHARLES E. CATHER, 0F WORCESTER, MASSCHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, -MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F l MAINE.

Leonesa.

. Application led December 6, 1915. Serial No. 65,248.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, CHARLES E. CATHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Metallic Fasteners for Merchandise-Envelops, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which the construction of my improved metallic fastener is illustrated, the novel features being described and specifically pointed out in the accompanying specification and appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view of a metallic fastener embodying `my invention, and attached to an envelop.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seal Hap end of the envelop showing my improved metallic fastener in position to be insertedthrough the opening in the seal ap. Figj represents a sectional view of a merchandise envelop having my improved fastener attached thereto, with the bendable 1 tongues'thereof shown in the same position as in Fig. 2. v Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the body portion of an envelop and 2 the seal flap, having an opening Sito receive a f .pair of bendable tongues forming part of 'the metallic'fastener, which is represented in a flat or extended position in Fig. l and comprises a central plate 4 having rejecting from opposite sides thereof t e two bendable tongues 5 and 6. The plate 4 is attached to the body of the envelop in any known manner, in the present instance by spurs 7 which pass through the body portion of the envelop and are' clenched upon the inner side.

In securing the seal flap the rtwo bendable tongues 5 and 6 are bent upwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby bringing the free ends of uthe tongues into proximity. The

tongue 5 is considerably longer than the tongue 6, so that when the tongues are bent up symmetrically from their junction with the central .plate l the free end of the tongue 6 will contact with the side of the longer' tongue 5 at a point 8 some distance below the free end of the tongue G. the two tongues forming with the central plate 4f an isosceles Specicaton of Letters Paten-t.

METALLIC FASTENER FOR MERCHANDlSE-ENVELOPS.

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triangle between the central plate and the point 8. Theextension 9 of the tongue 6 above the point 8 serves as a guide to conduct the seal iiap over the tip bf the tongue 5 and cause the opening 3 to Vbe centered around the base of the tongues. lVhen the seal flap has been closed upon -thebodv oi the envelop the eXtension'Q` also 'facilitates the bending of the tongue 6 down upon 'the body of the envelop, leaving the tongue free to be subsequently bent down, thereby fastening the seal flap and closing the envelop.

The extension 9 of the longer tongue I prefer to sharpen, while the end of the shorter tongue is cut square across. The shorter tongue, in the positions shown ia Figs. 2 and 3, furnishes a support for tho longer tongue, which presents a sharp tip l() adapted to puncture, the seal fiap when the opening 3 has been omitted. A i'netallic fastener having means for its ready attachment to the body portion of an envelop may be lused with any ordinary commercial enveltp, utilizing the sharp tip l() Jfor the purpose of puncturing the seal Hap, and as soon as the latter has passed over the free end of the shorter tongue pressing both tongues together, while the seal flap is moved down upon the body of the envelop.

l claim,

1. As an article o' manufacture, a metallic fastener for envelope, comprising a base plate provided with means i'or its attachment to the body oi anenvelop, a pair or" bendable tongues extending laterally i'roin opposite sides ot said plate andin the plane of the plate, with one of the tongues longer than the other and provided with`a pointed tip, said tongues being spaced ap'art in the plane of the plate, so the tongues when bent toward each other at their junction with the base plate for insertion through the seal Hap of the envelop will form with the base plate. an isosceles triangle with the pointed tip of the longer of said tongues extending across and beyond the tip of the shorter tongue.

2. The combination with an envelop provided with a seal flap, ot' a metal fastener comprising a base plate attached to the body of the envelop beneath said seal iiap. and provided with a pair of bendable tongues` extending laterally from the opposite sides of the base plate and in the plane thereof,

wthoneof said tongues pointed and longer than the-other, whereby when, said tongues are bent upwardly at their junction with the base plate to bring;l the tongues together, said pointed tongue will project beyond the tip of the shorter tongue for -insert-ion through the seal flap.

3. The combination with an envelop having a seal Hap, of a metal fastener compris- .ing a base plate attached tothe body of '.the'envelop beneath saideeul flap andprovided With a, pair of benclable tongues extending laterally from the opposite sides of the base plateand in the plane thereof, with one of said to' gues pointed and longer than the other, and with the end of the shorter longer tongue and the longer tongue will j project beyond the tip of the. shorter tongue for insertion through the seal flap, said tongues below their points of Contact forming With the base plate an isoseeles triangle. .Dated this 27th day of November 1915. lCHARLES E. CATHER.

V'Vitnesses: PENELOPE COMBERBACH, NELLIE WHALEN. 

